The Exeter Chiefs have confirmed that scrum-half Pat Phibbs will leave the club in the summer.

The Australian half-back journeyed to the Chiefs back in September on a short-term deal but Exeter boss Rob Baxter tied him down onto a season-long contract after being impressed by the 30-year-old. However, with Will Chudley arriving from the Falcons, Phibbs has now been deemed surplus to requirements.

He will join academy players Herbie Stupple, Jon Vickers, Addison Lockley, Charlie Walker-Blair and James Lightfoot-Brown in leaving Sandy Park at the end of the campaign. Coach Baxter admitted that it is always tough letting players leave but it is part of building for the future.

"There are tough calls all the time, especially with guys who are good players," Baxter said. "Any of these guys moving on is sad but it's also a reality of professional sport that you have to look to keep moving on otherwise you become stagnant.

"They are all moving on or being released for different reasons. Some have different challenges or contracts that they're looking forward to, others because them coming out of contract gives us a bit of flexibility in the budget.

"I'm sure a fair few of the academy guys will go into the Championship and that's probably the best thing for them at the moment - getting as much rugby in a really good team environment and see if they can push on from there. We look at the Championship a lot and anybody who performs well in the Championship will be of interest to us."